Patents by Inventor Kazuhito Matsui

Kazuhito Matsui has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7650811
    Abstract: A shifting device includes a housing, a shift lever, and a sensor unit. The shift lever is moved along frontward or rearward and leftward or rightward to select one of shift positions. The sensor unit is of a non-contact type and detects the selected shift position. The sensor unit includes a plurality of sensors and a magnet. The relative positions of the sensors and the magnet are variable. The sensor unit detects the selected shift position according to the relative positions. According to movement of the shift lever, at least one of the group of the sensors and the magnet is moved along a first movement axis and a second movement axis. The first and second movement axes extend in different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuhito Matsui, Masahiro Taniguchi, Osamu Shoji, Noriyuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20080006113
    Abstract: A shifting device includes a housing, a shift lever, and a sensor unit. The shift lever is moved along frontward or rearward and leftward or rightward to select one of shift positions. The sensor unit is of a non-contact type and detects the selected shift position. The sensor unit includes a plurality of sensors and a magnet. The relative positions of the sensors and the magnet are variable. The sensor unit detects the selected shift position according to the relative positions. According to movement of the shift lever, at least one of the group of the sensors and the magnet is moved along a first movement axis and a second movement axis. The first and second movement axes extend in different directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Kazuhito Matsui, Masahiro Taniguchi, Osamu Shoji, Noriyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7293480
    Abstract: A shifting device includes a housing, a shift lever, and a sensor unit. The shift lever is moved along frontward or rearward and leftward or rightward to select one of shift positions. The sensor unit is of a non-contact type and detects the selected shift position. The sensor unit includes a plurality of sensors and a magnet. The relative positions of the sensors and the magnet are variable. The sensor unit detects the selected shift position according to the relative positions. According to movement of the shift lever, at least one of the group of the sensors and the magnet is moved along a first movement axis and a second movement axis. The first and second movement axes extend in different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuhito Matsui, Masahiro Taniguchi, Osamu Shoji, Noriyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7252307
    Abstract: An end portion of a webbing belt is attached to a metal base plate, in which a hole is formed. A projecting portion is formed at an inner edge of the hole which inner edge is at a side opposite a belt attachment portion. When tension is applied to the webbing belt, due to a fixed plate engaging with the projecting portion, a tensed portion of the metal base plate between the belt attachment portion and the hole extends and the projecting portion contracts in the direction of the tension. As a result, first strain gauges mounted to the tensed portion output a signal corresponding to extension, and second strain gauges mounted to the projecting portion output a signal corresponding to contraction. A tension detecting device detects the tension on the basis of a large difference in outputs of the first strain gauges and the second strain gauges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masakata Kanbe, Kazuhito Matsui
  • Publication number: 20050001418
    Abstract: An end portion of a webbing belt is attached to a metal base plate, in which a hole is formed. A projecting portion is formed at an inner edge of the hole which inner edge is at a side opposite a belt attachment portion. When tension is applied to the webbing belt, due to a fixed plate engaging with the projecting portion, a tensed portion of the metal base plate between the belt attachment portion and the hole extends and the projecting portion contracts in the direction of the tension. As a result, first strain gauges mounted to the tensed portion output a signal corresponding to extension, and second strain gauges mounted to the projecting portion output a signal corresponding to contraction. A tension detecting device detects the tension on the basis of a large difference in outputs of the first strain gauges and the second strain gauges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Masakata Kanbe, Kazuhito Matsui
  • Publication number: 20040035237
    Abstract: A shifting device includes a housing, a shift lever, and a sensor unit. The shift lever is moved along frontward or rearward and leftward or rightward to select one of shift positions. The sensor unit is of a non-contact type and detects the selected shift position. The sensor unit includes a plurality of sensors and a magnet. The relative positions of the sensors and the magnet are variable. The sensor unit detects the selected shift position according to the relative positions. According to movement of the shift lever, at least one of the group of the sensors and the magnet is moved along a first movement axis and a second movement axis. The first and second movement axes extend in different directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Kazuhito Matsui, Masahiro Taniguchi, Osamu Shoji, Noriyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6570376
    Abstract: A detector for detecting a rotational angle of a gearshift lever. The detector includes a magnet that forms a magnetic flux in a predetermined direction along its surface. A magnetic resistance sensor generates a detection signal corresponding to the direction of the magnetic flux. The detected object is connected to the magnet or the magnetic resistance sensor. The magnet and the magnetic resistance sensor are rotated relatively to each other to generate the detection signal and obtain the rotational angle of the detected object. The magnetic resistance sensor is separated from an axis of rotation of the sensor or the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuhito Matsui, Masakata Kanbe
  • Patent number: 6518773
    Abstract: A compact and inexpensive sensor sensitivity adjusting apparatus. The sensor sensitivity adjusting apparatus includes a sensor, a current supplying IC and a variable resistor. The current supplying IC has first and second fixed resistors connected in series between two terminals of a power supply, and an operational amplifier. The sensitivity of the sensor changes in accordance with the value of a drive current. The drive current is adjusted by changing the resistance of the variable resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuhito Matsui, Yasushi Nishibe, Katsuya Kogiso
  • Publication number: 20010033231
    Abstract: A detector for detecting a rotational angle of a gearshift lever. The detector includes a magnet that forms a magnetic flux in a predetermined direction along its surface. A magnetic resistance sensor generates a detection signal corresponding to the direction of the magnetic flux. The detected object is connected to the magnet or the magnetic resistance sensor. The magnet and the magnetic resistance sensor are rotated relatively to each other to generate the detection signal and obtain the rotational angle of the detected object. The magnetic resistance sensor is separated from an axis of rotation of the sensor or the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuhito Matsui, Masakata Kanbe